Sin Filtro: Natalie Graham and Vanessa Angélica Villarreal

Folks, we’re going to have Natalie Graham and Vanessa Angélica Villarreal reading at the next Sin Filtro. I hadn’t heard of the poets before Isabel told me about them, but I checked out their websites and I’m very excited that they’re going to be performing at The Garcia Center for the Arts (Natalie Graham and Vanessa Angélica Villarreal).

Natalie, described as a “Ph.D, poet and hip-hop scholar,” has a ton of links on her site like a radio interview with the Los Angeles Review of Booksand there are a couple of poems you can check out online, “Leaping Fire in Princeville Park” and “Underneath There is a Wound.” I’d really recommend you consider purchasing Natalie Graham’s collection Begin With a Failed Body too. I’ve always liked being at least somewhat familiar with a poet’s work on the page before I hear them read—that might just be me though. Otherwise, Natalie’s book will be available for purchase on the night of the reading too.

Vanessa Angélica Villarreal’s Beast Meridian, which I can also strongly recommend you purchase, is a huge deal. Not only has it been featured on an NBC best reads list, but it also picked up huge praise from The Los Angeles Review of Books. And Vanessa is not just a poet, but also does design and video work. Here’s an example of her work “Estrellada”: